In praise of sea monkeys

This morning's 5-minute radio jewel "The Writer's Almanac" on NPR featured a poem by Charles Harper Webb, a former rock guitarist, that's replete with the day-to-day wisdom of someone who's spent much of his life bouncing off walls but (and this is the important part) has learned from the experience.

Here's a snippet from "How to Live" from Webb's collection "Amplified Dog" (Red Lion Press):

"Love freely. Treat ex-partners as kindly
as you can. Wish them as well as you're able.
Snorkel with moray eels and yellow tangs. Watch
spinner dolphins earn their name as your panga slam-
bams over glittering seas. Try not to lie; it sours the soul. But being a patsy sours it too. If you cause
a car wreck, and aren't hurt, but someone is, apologize
silently. Learn from your mistake. Walk gratefully
away. Let your insurance handle it. Never drive drunk.
Don't be a drunk, or any kind of 'aholic.' It's bad
English, and bad news. Don't berate yourself. If you lose
a game or prize you've earned, remember the winners
history forgets. Remember them if you do win. Enjoy
success. Have kids if you want and can afford them,
but don't make them your reason-to-be. Spare them that
misery. Take them to the beach. Mail order sea monkeys once in your life...."

No, it's not iambic pentameter. But it is replete with simple truths that might help you get through the day -- or at least around a Massachusetts rotary.